4683 (2025). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children

4683 (2025). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children: Are refugee and migrant children overrepresented in the care and protection system?

Hon Karen Chhour: I am advised by Oranga Tamariki that information about whether a child or young person in the care or custody of Oranga Tamariki has a refugee or migrant background is recorded in individual case files. To provide the information requested would require significant manual collation and I am not prepared to ask this of my officials at this time. As such, in accordance with the Speaker’s Ruling 199-3, I consider that the time, and therefore the expense, of answering the Member’s question is not in the public interest. More information regarding Oranga Tamariki’s practice guidance related to working with children with a refugee or migrant background can be found here: https://practice.orangatamariki.govt.nz/